A group of activists fighting against deportation flights have arrived at Chelmsford Crown Court ahead of a trial where 15 people face terrorism charges for allegedly occupying the runway at Stansted Airport.

On March 28, 2017, 15 anti-deportation protesters, now known as the 'Stansted 15', allegedly blocked a chartered plane that was due to deport asylum seekers and other migrants back to Nigeria and Ghana.

Read More

Police were called to the scene and the group on the non-commercial runway were arrested.

They were each charged with obstructing or disrupting a person engaged in lawful activity and organising or taking part in a demonstration likely to interfere or obstruct Stansted Airport and members of the group will also stand trial charged with terror offences under the Aviation and Maritime Security Act.

The defendants are: Emma Hughes, 26, Melanie Evans, 33, and May McKeith, 31, all of Leytonstone, Melanie Stickland, 34, of Walthamstow and Lyndsay Burtonshaw, 34, of no fixed abode.

Read More

Edward Thacker, 27, of Hackney, and Nicholas Sigsworth, 27, from Leytonstone are also due to appear in court with Alistair Tamlit, 28, from London and Benjamine Metters, 26, of Haringey.

Finally Nathan Clack, 28, from Lambeth, and Joseph McGahan of Leystonstone, have also been charged.

The trial is due to begin this morning at Chelmsford Crown Court, with around 100 people having already turned up to protest by 9am.

On the Facebook event page , the organisers urged anyone planning to join the protest to wear a pink item of clothing.

There is expected to be a line-up of prearranged speakers outside the court.

Read More

The post reads: "Come ready to express your solidarity, energy, love and rage, be it in song, music, spoken word, banners or chanting, as we rally in support of the Stansted defendants and against deportation charter flights."

The trial is scheduled to last for 4-6 weeks and the Facebook page is also urging supporters to attend the public gallery during the daily hearings.

You can follow live updates from the protest and trial here using our blog below:

'End deportation'

The Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley

The co-leader of the Green Party, Jonathan Bartley, is campaigning outside Chelmsford Crown Court in solidarity with the ‘Stansted 15’.

In this video he outlines why he is in the city.

09:44Alasdair Hooper

David Lammy standing with the Stansted 15

Labour MP for Tottenham David Lammy voiced his support over the weekend for the ‘Stansted 15’

Today I am standing in solidarity with #Stansted15, calling for charges against them to be dropped and for the Home Office to cease the inhumane practice of deportation charter flights. The public would be horrified if they knew the reality of this process https://t.co/zT7NMo0LXWpic.twitter.com/vDV3Tno2kV

'Drop the charges'

The ‘Stansted 15’ face terrorism charges as well as obstructing or disrupting a person engaged in lawful activity and organising or taking part in a demonstration likely to interfere or obstruct Stansted Airport.

The protesters are calling for the charges to be dropped.

Protesters are calling for the charges to be dropped

The 15 defendants face terrorism charges

09:37Alasdair Hooper

Who are the defendants?

The defendants are: Emma Hughes, 26, Melanie Evans, 33, and May McKeith, 31, all of Leytonstone, Melanie Stickland, 34, of Walthamstow and Lyndsay Burtonshaw, 34, of no fixed abode.

Protesters urged to wear a pink item of clothing

Protesters gather outside court

Approximately 100 people have turned up outside Chelmsford Crown Court to show solidarity with the defendants.

Protesters outside Chelmsford Crown Court as the trial for the Stansted 15 begins

09:14Alasdair Hooper

March 28, 2017

On March 28, 2017 15 anti-deportation protesters, now known as the ‘Stansted 15’, allegedly blocked a chartered plane that was due to deport asylum seekers and other migrants back to Nigeria and Ghana.